---
name: needanai
description: Find, compare and watch AI tools using the NeedAnAI catalogue (15,000+ tools with pricing, alternatives and liveness freshness). Use when a user asks which AI tool to use for a task, wants alternatives to a tool, wants pricing or whether a tool is still alive, or wants to be alerted when a tool changes.
---

# NeedAnAI

NeedAnAI is a directory of 15,000+ AI tools. Each listing has pricing (and when pricing was last checked), pros and cons, FAQs, alternatives and a scanner verdict on whether the site is still alive.

## Connect

- MCP (preferred): `https://mcp.needanai.com/mcp` (Streamable HTTP, no auth for reads)
- REST: `https://api.needanai.com/v1` — OpenAPI at `https://api.needanai.com/openapi.json`
- No MCP client available? `GET https://needanai.com/tool/<slug>.json` or `.md`

## Workflow

1. **Pick candidates** — `recommend_for_task` with the user's task and budget (`free`, `freemium`, `paid`, `any`). It returns a rationale per pick. For a known name use `search_tools` or `get_tool`.
2. **Narrow** — `find_alternatives` for a tool the user already knows; `compare_tools` for 2–5 finalists.
3. **Check reality** — `check_status` before recommending anything the user will pay for. Report the freshness label and date: `fresh` (site confirmed alive within 30 days), `aging` (90), `stale`, or `unknown`.
4. **Cite** — every result includes a `url` on needanai.com and the tool's own `websiteUrl`. Link both.
5. **Stay honest** — sponsored items arrive in a separate `sponsored` block with a disclosure. Never present them as organic results; if you mention one, say it is sponsored.

## With a free API key (`Authorization: Bearer nai_…`, from https://needanai.com/profile?tab=api-keys)

- `watch_tool` — webhook or email when status or pricing changes (checked every 30 minutes).
- `submit_tool` — suggest a missing tool; duplicates return the existing listing.
- `export_tools` — up to 2,000 rows as JSON or CSV through a signed 24-hour link.

## Limits

Anonymous: 300 requests/day, 5/s burst. Keyed: 3,000/day. Errors are RFC 9457 problem documents with `Retry-After` when relevant.